Gaelic is at the heart of all the Irish surnames that can be found throughout the world today. The original Gaelic form of the name MacGuilacuddy is Mac Giolla Chuda, which perhaps denotes a devotee of St. Mochuda.

MacGuilacuddy Early Origins

The surname MacGuilacuddy was first found in County Kerry (Irish:Ciarraí) part of the former County Desmond (14th-17th centuries), located in Southwestern Ireland, in Munster province, where The McGillycuddy of the Reeks (Irish: Mac Giolla Mochuda) was one of the hereditary chiefs of the name of Ireland.

MacGuilacuddy Spelling Variations

MacGuilacuddy Spelling Variations

Scribes and church officials, lacking today's standardized spelling rules, recorded names by how they were pronounced. This imprecise guide often led to the misleading result of one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname MacGuilacuddy are preserved in documents of the family history. The various spellings of the name that were found include Gillycuddy, McGillycuddy, Gillecuddy, Gillacuddy, Gillicuddy, McGillicuddy, McGillecuddy, McGillacuddy, McGullucuddy, MacGillicudy, McGillicudy and many more.

MacGuilacuddy Early History

MacGuilacuddy Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacGuilacuddy research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacGuilacuddy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacGuilacuddy Early Notables (pre 1700)

MacGuilacuddy Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 20 words (1 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacGuilacuddy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

A massive wave of Irish immigrants hit North America during the 19th century. Although many early Irish immigrants made a carefully planned decision to leave left Ireland for the promise of free land, by the 1840s immigrants were fleeing a famine stricken land in desperation. The condition of Ireland during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s can be attributed to a rapidly expanding population and English imperial policies. Those Irish families that arrived in North America were essential to its rapid social, industrial, and economic development. Passenger and immigration lists have revealed a number of early Irish immigrants bearing the name MacGuilacuddy: Catherine McGillycuddy who settled in Boston in 1749; Phillip McGillicuddy arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1845; and Timothy Magillacuddy settled in New York State in 1849..

Motto

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Heraldic Scroll and Map of Family names and Origins of Ireland. Dublin: Mullins. Print.

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The MacGuilacuddy Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The MacGuilacuddy Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.